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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A delegation from Erath County, including |
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representatives from the county, the City of Stephenville, |
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Stephenville ISD, and Tarleton State University, are gathering at |
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the State Capitol on March 1, 2023, and this occasion provides a |
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welcome opportunity to recognize the county's contributions to the |
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Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Formed in 1856, Erath County is named for |
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George B. Erath, an original surveyor of the area; cotton farming |
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was an important early industry, and fruit orchards, dairy and |
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poultry farms, and other agricultural ventures later became |
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prominent; coal mining also provided jobs, and the Thurber Brick |
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Company was established in 1918 to manufacture such materials as |
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tile and paving bricks; and |
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WHEREAS, The seat of Erath County, Stephenville is situated |
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along the Bosque River; it honors John M. Stephen, who settled there |
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in 1854 and donated land for the townsite; Stephenville has |
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received the Main Street designation from the Texas Historical |
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Commission, and the 1892 Erath County Courthouse designed by James |
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Riely Gordon is renowned for its beauty; serving as a hub for the |
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area's agricultural operations, Stephenville is also the site of |
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medical facilities and retail businesses, with a range of |
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manufacturers, including Fortune 500 companies, adding economic |
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diversity to the community; and |
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WHEREAS, The Stephenville Independent School District serves |
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more than 3,600 students at three elementary schools, an |
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intermediate school and junior high school, and Stephenville High |
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School; the district has received an overall A rating from the Texas |
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Education Agency and places a strong emphasis on the core values of |
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initiative, integrity, and growth in preparing students for the |
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challenges and opportunities of the future; and |
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WHEREAS, The county is home to two higher education |
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facilities, Ranger College and Tarleton State University, which is |
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a four-year institution that was established in 1899; a member of |
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The Texas A&M University System, TSU boasts an enrollment of more |
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than 14,000 students and offers nearly 100 undergraduate and |
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graduate degree plans; made up of seven academic colleges, the |
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university also offers a doctorate in education and expanded online |
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programs; and |
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WHEREAS, Beloved for its rich Western heritage and rural |
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friendliness, Erath County is one of the treasures of Texas, and its |
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citizens may indeed take pride in the place they call home; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Erath County and commend the visitors from |
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the county, the City of Stephenville, Stephenville ISD, and |
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Tarleton State University for their community's contributions to |
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the Lone Star State. |